A prayer of an afflicted person feeling faint and who pours out their sorrows to Yahweh.

102 Hear my prayer, Yahweh.

≈ Let my call for help reach you.

2 Don’t hide your face from me on my day of distress.

≈ Listen to me when I call you, and answer me quickly,

3 because my days are floating away like smoke,

≈ and my bones feel like they’re on fire.

4 My heart is cut and withered like grass,

and I have no interest in eating.

5 My skin clings to me

because of the loud groaning of my bones.

6 I’m like a vulture in the wilderness.

I’m like an owl among the ruins.

7 I lie awake

like a lonely bird sitting on the roof.

8 My enemies taunt me all day long.

They ridicule and curse me

9 because I’ve eaten ashes for food

and my tears have mixed into my drink.

10 You picked me up and threw me away

because of your indignation and anger.

11 My days are like extending shadows,

and I’m withering away like the grass.

12 But you sit on your throne forever,

and your reputation endures through the generations.

13 At the right time you’ll feel compassion for Tsiyyon (Zion).

Now is the time to favour it because the promised moment has come,

14 because your servants admire the stones that it’s built with,

and its dust makes them want to request help.

15 The nations respect Yahweh’s reputation,

and kings around the world respect your splendour.

16 Yahweh will rebuild Tsiyyon.

He’ll appear there in his splendour

17 after he’s turned to the prayers of the destitute.

≈ No, he hasn’t despised their prayers.

18 Let this be written for future generations to read

≈ so that people yet to be created will praise Yah.

19 Because he’s looked down from his place that’s high and pure.

≈ From heaven, Yahweh has looked down to earth

20 to hear the prisoners groaning—

to release those who’ve been given the death sentence.

21 Then Yahweh’s name will be declared in Tsiyyon,

≈ and he’ll be praised in Yerushalem

22 when all the people groups are gathered together,

≈ and the kingdoms assembled to serve Yahweh.

23 He’s sapped my strength right here in mid-life.

≈ He’s shortened my life.

24 I said, “My god, don’t take me away right in the middle of life.

You live through generation after generation.

25 You founded this planet right at the beginning.[ref]

You made the skies with your own hands.

26 You’ll remain even when they perish.

They’ll wear out like an old shirt—

like clothes you’ll change them and they’ll disappear.

27 But you are there,

≈ and your years won’t ever come to an end.

28 The children of your servants here will live on,

and their descendants will live in your presence.”